Man robbed, tied up 2 Chinese masseuses

An unemployed man, who robbed and tied up two masseuses with cable ties, was sentenced yesterday to two years and seven months in jail and 12 strokes of the cane for robbery and cheating.

Teo Zhi Jie, 21, was given a concurrent jail sentence of two months and fined $30,000 (S$42,000) for helping a loan shark by handing over his bank ATM card to facilitate the loan shark's business.

A court heard that on Feb 26 last year, Teo told Lee Qing Yew, 19, of his plan to rob prostitutes by impersonating policemen.

One person would pose as a customer and the other would barge in. Both would say they are policemen checking on the unit. They would then steal valuables.

They targeted illegal escorts, believing they would not report them.

Both men contacted Melvin Tan Shen Kang, 18, who agreed to the plan.

When Teo went to the Balestier Road unit of freelance masseuse Hu Yang, he asked to use the toilet. When the China national found that he had put on rubber gloves, Teo pushed her to the bed and tied her hands with a cable tie.

The other two entered the premises and robbed her of $364, a credit card and other belongings.

On June 15 last year, Lee planned to let in Teo and Andrew Tan Zhi Wei, 28, once he entered China national He Yuanyuan's unit in Kim Keat Road for a massage.

But Ms He locked the door so Lee returned after the massage claiming that he had left his wallet behind. When Ms He opened the door, Teo and Andrew Tan barged in.

They tied her hands and robbed her of $800, two mobile phones and other items.

Lee is now at the Reformative Training Centre while Melvin Tan will be sentenced on March 3. Andrew Tan has absconded.

elena@sph.com.sg

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